Washing-machine



UNTTED STATES PATTNT @Trina PHILIP LUTES, OF PLATTE CITY, MISSOURI.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,@Q, dated April 10,1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP LU'rEs, ot' Platte City, in the county ofPlatte and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure l is a section of a washing-machine, taken longitudinallythrough the oblong tub, said machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the severalfigures.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains tofully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe itsnature, construction, and operation in the order in which they arementioned.

My said invention consists, first, in the combination of a semicylindrical or approximately shaped vibrating rubber, formed of slatsfixed stationarily in a frame, with a series of rollers arranged in thebottom of a concave tub in parallel positions, but with their axes inthe arc of a circle and the invention further consists in a method ofconstructing the upper portion of the machine to adapt the latter toadmit of the vibratory movement of the arms which project out of thetub, prevent the water from splashing out, and provide a ready means ot'openin g the tub for accessto its inside.

In the annexed drawings, A represents an oblong tub, the upper and lowerportions of which may be segmental or semicircular in their transversesection, while the intervening middle portion of the tub is fiat-that isto say, the sides are straight. The lower portion of the tub may becomposed of zinc, to give strength at the point where the friction issustained.

B B B are a series of rollers, arranged each in equal proximity with theinner surface of of the zinc bottom, and hence occupying a part of acircle which may be described from the axis of vibration c of the rubberC. The rollers B are provided with journals on their ends, which havebearings in the ends ofthe tub A, so that the rollers may rotate freelyon their axes; but the slats o of the vibratory rubber C are fixed. Theyhave no movement other than that which is due to the oscillation of therubber. The said rubber C is suspended Within t-he tub upon thestud-shafts c, which project from the end pieces of the rubber, and whenthe latter is in the tub in operating position they rest in bearingsformed by the curved U shaped pieces D, which may be fixed permanentlyto the inside of the end pieces of the tub. These bearings D, openingupward, admit of the ready removal and introduction of the rubber G.

Two arms, C C', are attached to the rubber C, and are connected at theirupper ends by the handle G2, by means of which the rubber is vibratedwithin the tub.

The cover or top portion ot' the tub consists of three parts, A A2 A2.The larger and central part, A', fits in between the two arms C C',which form part of the rubbing device, and the side edges of the coverare adapted to tit or rest snugly in grooves formed longitudinally onthe straight sides of the tub. The horizontal curved portion of the endpieces, A2 A2, cover so much of the tub as is left uncovered by the lidA', and by their vertical portions said end pieces, A2 A2, are attachedto the tub by hinges F F. By taking off the piece A and turning the endpieces, A2 A2, aside upon their hinges, the cover of the tub is removedto permit the removal of the rubber C.

Between the end pieces, A2, and piece or lid A' are. openings G G, inwhich the arms C of the rubber G move back and forth during theopera-tion.

The operation may be briefly described, as follows: The machine is firstopened by removing the cover in the manner described, and the rubberistaken out. Then the clothes or garments to be washed are laid upon therollers B, the rubber is introduced, and the cover replaced, waterhaving been supplied as usual. By now vibrating the rubber C by forcingthe handle C2 baclrandforth the clothes are subjected to the necessaryrubbing and scouring action to insure the rapid and thorough cleansing.

The machine is not of complicated construction and may be manufacturedwith comparatively little expense.

Of, handle C2, bearings D, central piece or lid, A', hinged end pieces,A2 A2, and intervening spaces or openings, G G, the Whole beingconstructed and operating substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

PHILIP LUTES.

Witnesses:

C. M. BOYD, JAs. M. BRADY.

